KARACHI: Pakistan has extended the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft until September 23, 2025, amid ongoing tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
According to a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Wednesday, all aircraft registered in India remain barred from using Pakistani airspace.
The restriction applies to flights operated by Indian airlines as well as military and civilian aircraft owned or leased by India.
The authority said the ban, which has been in place since April this year, will continue to be enforced.
“All aircraft operated by Indian airlines will not be allowed to use Pakistani airspace. The ban also remains in place for military and civilian aircraft that are Indian-owned or leased,” the notification stated.
Pakistan initially closed its skies to Indian flights on 23 April 2025 following the Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the incident, India levelled unfounded allegations against Pakistan, which escalated into a conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Despite a ceasefire reached through US mediation earlier this year, the restrictions on air travel have remained in effect.
The PAA had previously extended the ban until 23 August.
The continued closure has disrupted Indian airlines’ operations, particularly on westbound routes to Europe and North America.
Indian carriers have been forced to adopt longer flight paths that bypass Pakistan, resulting in higher fuel costs and extended travel times.
According to Indian media reports, the restrictions have already caused financial losses running into billions of rupees for both state-run and private airlines.
Pakistan maintains that the measure was taken in response to what it describes as “unprovoked Indian aggression” earlier this year.
